European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 12, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                John Vance whose great Grandfather is believed to have Fascen part in the 1888 ambush by the hat Fields that killed three Mccoy now tends the cemetery where those victims and two other Mccoy Are buried. Tourism coming to Sites by Allen g. Breed the associated press enry Hatfield is used to strangers showing up at his Doorstep expecting to hear tales of his family s feud with the Kentucky Mccoy. They aggravate us to death says the 69-year old grandson of clan Leader Anderson Devil Anse Hatfield. They come from every country in the world England France Germany. They come from every state. It s been going on All my  until now Hatfield has taken the onslaught at his Home in Sarah Ann ., one Carload at a time. But he May soon have to contend with busloads. For More than a Century Many folks in the mountains of West Virginia and neighbouring Kentucky have viewed the Hatfield Mccoy feud which claimed up to 20 lives during the 1880s As something to be lived Down. Journalists cartoonists and even scholars used the feud to promote an image of appalachians As ignorant barbarians who Rode the ridges and Creek Banks dispensing Justice at the end of a gun barrel. But hard times in the coalfields have transformed the feud from something to hide into something to show off to. Tourists. It has ail those earmarks that attract people to history says appalachian state University professor John Alexander Williams who has been working with officials in Matewan ., on ways to interpret the feud for tourism purposes. It has family stories it has  Pikeville Pike county tourism commission in Kentucky recently announced a plan to develop six feud Sites for bus or Van Tours at a Cost of $390,000. Matewan development Center director c. Paul Mcallister or. Is talking about a similar approach on the West Virginia Side of the tug Fork River where most of the hat Fields lived. But years of shunting the feud into " the background have left very Little to show visitors. The twin Chimney Cabin of preacher Anse Hatfield in Eastern Pike county is was the site of what Many believe is the feud s origin the election Day 1882 stabbing and shooting of Devil Anse s younger brother Ellison. In retaliation the hat Fields seized three sons of Randolph ran a Mccoy who were in route to jail tied them to Pawpaw Bushes and executed them. The Cabin was allowed to rot to the ground with Only its chimneys remaining. And the cemetery where the slain Mccoy lie is unmarked As Are most other feud related Sites. Most of the local people did t want to talk about it says Betsy Venters past president of the preservation Council of Pike county. They spent years not talking about it but officials think they can resurrect that buried past and Market it to tourists. A historic landscape artist has proposed restoration plans for the Kentucky Sites some now accessible Only to a Good climber. Plans also Call for signs that would illustrate the events teach site. People do come unsolicited to Matewan every Day Mcallister says no telling what you could do with that if you began having More for people to do make it user Friendly officials also figure a Well done tourism promotion could Clear up the myths surrounding the feud. Williams director of appalachian studies at the North Carolina College blames much of the hillbilly stereotyping that still plagues the Region on contemporary reports about the feud some accounts have stretched the conflict out Over decades and driven its death toll As High As 150. Stories of the Day were often accompanied by staged portraits of clan members even Young children brandishing firearms. Scholars have argued that the Region s isolation and relative Lack of social institutions created a lawlessness in the mountains. But feud revisionists say the conflict was More an outgrowth of the economic changes wrought by the exploitation of Appalachia s Rich Coal and Timber resources. It took place exactly at that time when the tug Valley was being redeveloped Williams says. The newspapers used the violence As a Way of telling the rest of the world that the Mountain people were uncivilized and therefore weren t worthy of any sympathy when they got pushed aside by the  closer look infamous family feud still fuels dissension appalachian state University professor John Alexander Williams says that tourism officials in the Region can help set people in the rest of the world straight on what really happened during the Hatfield Mccoy feud. Some descendants of the clans agree. A lot of people throughout the United states and probably the world think that it was a Bunch of Moonshiner shooting Back and Forth at each other and that was t the Case says John Vance great grandson of Hatfield ally James old Jim Vance. Actually the Hatfield and Mccoy were considered affluent people at the  but Estil Hatfield a great Nephew of Devil Anse does t Trust the tourism people to get the Story right. They have abused the two names to make Money he told the Williamson  Daily news in september. I m 100 percent  ,. Following Are key events in the feud Jan. 7,1865 Asa Harmon Mccoy a Union Soldier is killed by a band of Confederate guerrillas. Anderson Devil Anse Hatfield or Hatfield ally Jim Vance Are suspected of leading the band. Some historians cite this As the feud s origin. Aug. 7,1882 Ellison Hatfield Devil Anse s younger brother is stabbed about two dozen times and shot at a polling place an illustration from a 1901 history depicts the murder of the three Mccoy boys in 1892. Just inside the Kentucky Border. He is carried mortally wounded Back to West Virginia. 4 aug. 9,1882 Ellison Hatfield Dies from his wounds. The hat Fields had previously captured three sons of clan Leader Randolph Mccoy who were believed to have attacked Ellison Hatfield. The three Are tied to Pawpaw Bushes on the Kentucky Side and executed. Jan. 1,1888 hat Fields raid and Burn Randolph Mccoy s Cabin killing two of his children and severely injuring his wife. Jan. 19,1888 posses from Pike county Cross into West Virginia to capture Hatfield allies. Logan county posse defending Border confronts invaders in Battle for Grapevine Creek and West Virginia Deputy not involved in feud is killed. Considered feud s last skirmish. Feb. 18,1890 Ellison mounts supposedly an illegitimate son of Ellison Hatfield is hanged for the murders of Calvin and Alifair Mccoy killed in the 1888 raid. His execution and burial site Are on the Hill now occupied by Pikeville College. The associated press the stars and stripes 15